The NIH is committed to supporting health equity research to 1) improve minority health and reduce health disparities in the United States and 2) remove the barriers to advancing health disparities research (for more information, see: NIH's statement on ending structural racism and the NIH/NIMHD Strategic Plan). In alignment with this NIH-wide effort, NIDA established the Racial Equity Initiative (REI), with goals that include promoting racial equity in NIDA’s research portfolio. Among the actions taken by NIDA, which were informed by internal and external meetings and listening sessions, the Institute has committed to a significant increase in funding for research to address disparities in outcomes related to drug use and HIV.
The following REI funding opportunity announcements seek to advance equity by supporting research and research training efforts that are consistent with NIDA’s mission and with best practices for conducting research with racial and ethnic minority populations.
- RFA-DA-23-013- NIDA REI: Addressing Racial Equity in Substance Use and Addiction Outcomes Through Community-Engaged Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
- RFA-DA-23-032- NIDA REI: Addressing Racial Equity in Substance Use and Addiction Outcomes Through Community-Engaged Research at Minority Serving Institutions (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional)
- RFA-DA-23-061- NIDA REI: Reaching Equity at the Intersection of HIV and Substance Use: Novel Approaches to Address HIV Related Health Disparities in Underserved Racial/Ethnic Populations (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
- RFA-DA-23-062- NIDA REI: Reaching Equity at the Intersection of HIV and Substance Use: Novel Approaches to Address HIV Related Health Disparities in Underserved Racial/Ethnic Populations (R34 Clinical Trial Optional)
- RFA-DA-23-028- NIDA REI: Research on Neurocognitive Mechanisms Underlying the Impact of Structural Racism on the Substance Use Trajectory (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional)
- RFA-DA-23-029- NIDA REI: Research at Minority Serving Institutions on Neurocognitive Mechanisms Underlying the Impact of Structural Racism on the Substance Use Trajectory (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional)
- RFA-DA-23-026- NIDA REI: Racial Equity Visionary Award Program for Research on Substance Use and Racial Equity (DP1 Clinical Trial Optional)
- RFA-DA-23-031- NIDA REI: Racial Equity Visionary Award Program for Research at Minority Serving Institutions on Substance Use and Racial Equity (DP1 Clinical Trial Optional)
Closed RFAs
- RFA-DA-23-025- NIDA REI: Coordination Center to Support Racial Equity and Substance Use Disparities Research (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NIDA conducted a pre-application technical assistance (TA) webinar related to the above funding opportunities (NOFOs) on September 26, 2022. The webinar provided an overview of the funding opportunities and an opportunity for NIDA staff to answer questions raised by prospective applicants. An archived videocast is available for viewing.
FAQs: Read Frequently Asked Questions about the above Funding Opportunities
For questions regarding the above funding opportunities, please contact Dr. Alexa Romberg.
Approved NIDA Racial Equity Initiative Concepts
The following are some concepts that were put forward by the NIDA Racial Equity Initiative and approved by the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse earlier in 2022. A concept describes the purpose, scope, and objectives of a potential funding opportunity announcement. Concepts are posted to give interested researchers additional time to plan for application submissions. Approved concepts are usually developed into Requests For Applications (RFAs), Program Announcements that include set-aside funds (PASs), or Program Announcements with special receipt, referral and/or review considerations (PARs). While these are not currently funding announcements, this public information gives an indication of important research areas that are of current interest to NIDA. If/when they are developed into funding announcements, they can be found on our website under NIDA Funding Opportunities and published in the NIH Guide.